Coded switch construction



Sept 6, 1966 G. J. PAWELKA ETAL 3,271,529

CODED SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May l2, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l wwwATTORNE Sept- 6, 1966 G. J. PAWELKA ETAL 3,271,529

GODED SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May 12, 1964 INVENTORS @as 7,01/ Pau/U64United States Patent O 3,271,529 CODED SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Gustav J.Pawelka, Sunset Ave., Glenwood Landing, N.Y., and Frederick H. Kroll, 72Wood Hollow Lane, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Filed May 12, 1964, Ser. No. 366,725 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-5) The presentinvention relates generally to an improved electrical device and itrelates in particular to an improved coded electric switch which ishighly useful in the playing of games or in other operations.

Many procedures require for their proper practice an apparatus providingan indication of the selection of a predetermined arrangement orsequence of items or events. Thus, in the playing of many games, asbingo for example or lotto, the determination of the game depends on thespecial arrangement of randomly selected numbers on a card provided withspaces corresponding to these numbers. In accordance with the playingrules of the aforesaid games, the completion of the game is effectedwhen the members in spaces on the card extending linearly for a fullwidth or length or a diagonal of the playing card are selected.Heretofore, the observation lof the individual players were generallyrelied upon in determining a winning card and this practice frequentlyled to errors which greatly interfered with the continuous and properplaying of the game. Many other procedures, both of a recreational andeducational nature depend on the determination of a predeterminedspecial arrangement of items or events in a selected pattern for thesuccessful practice thereof.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to providean improved electrical switching apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved codedelectrical switching device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedswitching apparatus responsive to the actuation of elements arranged ina predetermined pattern.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved electrical switching device useful in the playing of multipleselection games.

Another and additional objects of the present invention are to providean electrical apparatus of the above nature characterized by ruggedness,versatility, ease of operation and reliability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan fragmentary view of an apparatus embodying thepresent invention as applied to the playing of bingo or similar game;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3 3 in FIGURE 2, showingin full lines a pair of diagonal actuating bars, one in advancedposition and the other in retracted position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4 4 in FIGURE 2, showingone of the transverse actuating bars in advanced position;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 in FIGURE 2, showingone of the longitudinal actuating bars in an advanced position;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the present apparatus;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7 7 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8 8 in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9 9 in FIGURE 4;

3,27l,529 Patented Sept. 6, 1966 FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspectiveview of the switch apparatus mounting structure;

FIGURE l1 is an exploded perspective view of the bar advancing andswitch contact mechanism;

FIGURE 12 is a top perspective view of one of the end slide bar members;

FIGURE 13 is a top perspective view of one of the other slide barmembers;

FIGURE 1-4 is a bottom perspective view of one of the diagonal swing barmembers; and

FIGURE 15 is a bottom perspective view of the other diagonal swing barmember.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of anelectrical switching device comprising an actuating member movablebetween a retracted and an advanced position and having a plurality ofapertures formed therein, means resiliently urging said actuating membertoward its advanced position, a latching element registering with eachof said apertures and movable between a retracted position locking saidactuating member in its retracted position and an advanced positionreleasing said actuating member for movement to its advanced position,and a switch responsive to the movement of said actuating member betweensaid advanced and retracted positions.

According to a preferred form of the present device, there is provided abase plate having a plurality of circular apertures formed thereinarranged in regularly spaced similar rows and columns and delineatinglinear diagonals, the intersecting point of which is free of anaperture, each of the apertures being provided with axial collarsdepending from the edges thereof. superimposed on the base plate inside-by-side arrangement are a plurality of longitudinally extendingfirst slide bars in alignment with corresponding columns ofbase-apertures and being movable along their lengths between advancedand retracted positions, the first slide bars having apertures formedtherein coinciding with the respective base apertures when the bars arein their retracted positions. Superimposed on the first slide bars andalso in side-by arrangement are a plurality of transversely extendingsecond slide bars in alignment with corresponding rows of base and firstslide bar apertures and being movable along their lengths betweenadvanced and retracted position. The second slide bars have aperturesformed .therein in vertical coincidence with the underlying base andfirst bar apertures when the bars are in their retracted positions.Third and fourth swinging bars extend along the diagonals of thearranged apertures and overly the second bars and are pivoted at theirpoint of intersection to the base plate. The third and fourth bars areswingable between advanced and retracted positions and have aperturesformed therein which, when these bars are in their retracted positions,vertically coincide with the corresponding diagonally disposed aperturesof the underlying base plate. A latching elemen-t movable between araised and a depressed position registers axially with each axial set ofapertures and includes a lower latching section which engages acorresponding aperture set when the latching element is in raisedposition to lock, releasably, the respective bars in their retractedpositions, and when the latching element is in depressed position thelatching section is out of engagement with said set of apertures wherebyto release said respective bars for advance movement. A cover plateoverlies the bars and has small apertures formed therein, the latchingmembers having coaxial sh-anks directed upwardly from the latchingsections and slidably engaging the cover plate apertures and beingjoined to the latching sections by conical shoulders. A resilient metallinger engages the trailing end of each of the bars to urge them towardtheir advanced positions, the bases of the lingers being illustratedthese may be changed in number.

joined by a common cross bar. A plurality of contact elements aredisposed in the path of the resilient ngers and are likewise joined by acommon cross bar. A signal lamp is connected in series with the fingerbar and contact bar to a source of energizing current.

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, reference numeral generally designates theimproved apparatus which includes ya basel section 11, a cover section1-2 and a bottom reset plate 13. Base section 11 comprises a rectangularframe 1-4 having vertical front and rear walls 16 and 17 respectivelyand side -walls 18. Depending from the rear corners of the frame member14 are legs 15 of angular transverse cross-section and having underfaceslying in a plane containing the bottom edge of front wall 16 so thatframe member 14 assumes -a forwardly downwardly inclined position whenthe appara-tus is supported on a horizontal base, as illustrated inFIGURE 2 of the drawing.

Supported by and integrally formed with frame 14 is Va base plate '19extending to the fron-t, rear and side walls 16, 17 and 18 and disposeda short distance below the top edges thereof. Formed in base plate 19and arranged in a square pattern are a group of regularly,transversely-spaced columns of regularly longitudinallyspaced circularapertures 20, the apertures being longitudinally and transverselyaligned. Although, less the central space, ve columns of five apertureseach are Apertures 20 are also arranged linearly along intersectingdiagonals, an aperture being omitted at the point of intersectioncorresponding to -the medial section of the aperture rows and columns,and a cylindrical pivot post 21 is directed upwardly from base plate 19lat the center thereof. Formed along a side edge of the base plate 19and in transverse alignment with corresponding rows of apertures 20 arerectangular openings 22, the forwardmost of these, opening 23, being ofsomewhat greater width than the other openings 22. Similarly formedalong the rear edge of base plate 1.9` in longitudinal alignment withcorresponding columns of apertures 20 are a plurality of rectangularopenings 24, the leftmost of which, opening 26 as seen in FIGURE l0,being wider than the other openings 24. Depending from base plate 19along lines coinciding with lthe inner edges of openings 22 and 23 andthe inner edges of -openings -24 and 26 `are side and rear panels 25 and35 respectively.

A plurality of longitudinally extending slide bars 2-7 and 28 arearranged inrsubstantially side-by-side relationship and are superimposedon base plate 19 individually slidable .along the lengths thereofbetween advanced and retracted positions. The leftmost slide bar 27 isillustrated in FIGURE 12 of the drawing and is in the shape of a flatslat having a longitudinal medial axis coinciding with the medial axisof the leftmost column of base plate apertures 20. Formed in slide bar27 is a plurality of spaced circular apertures 29 which are of the samediameter as apertures 20 and coincide with underlying of said apertureswhen slide bar 27 is in its retracted position. Slide bar 27 is providedwith a tail or trailing section 30 registering with the right side ofopening 26, the left corner of trailing section 30 being cut off toprovide a recess 32 registering with the left side of opening 26. Theremaining slide bars 28 are of the configuration illustrated in FIGURE13 of the drawings, and are substantially of the same structure as slidebar 27 except that they lack recess 32. Each slide bar 28 has circularapertures 33 formed therein which vertically coincide with correspondingunderlying base plate apertures 20 when the respective slide bars 28 arein their retracted positions. Slide bars 28 are also provided withtrailing sections 34 which register with corresponding openings 24 whenthe respective slide bars 28 are in retracted positions.

superimposed on the slide bars 27 and 28 and slidable along theirlengths between advanced and retracted positions are a plurality oftransversely extending side-by-side slide bars 36 and 37. The lowermostslide Ibar 36 is similar to slide bar 27 and includes an upper trailingcorner 38 registering with the upper part of opening 23 and spacedcircular Iapertures vertically coinciding with the underlying base plateapertures 19 when slide bar 36 is in its retracted position. Theremaining upper slide bars 37 are similar to slide bars 28 and providedwith trailing sections 39 registering with base plate openings 22 andspaced circular apertures vertically coinciding with the respectiveunderlying base plate apertures 19 when the respective slide bars 37arefin their retracted positions. It should be noted that the centralapertures of the medial slide bars register with pivot post 21.

A pair of upper and lower swing bars 40 and 41 respectively overlieupper slide bars 36, 37 and extend along the respective diagonals of theunderlying groups of slide bars, and are each swingable through alimited arc about their central axis Vbetween a clockwise retractedposition and a counterclockwise advanced position. Lower swing bar 41rests on the slide bars 36, 37 and has formed therein a central opening42 which engages pivot post 21 and opposite spaced pairs of circularopenings 43A which are of the same diameter and vertically coincide withlthe underlying diagonally related sets of base plate and slide barapertures when the bars are in their retracted positions. Formed alongopposite edges of swing b-ar 41 are arcuate recesses 44 which clear theadjacent slide bar apertures.

Swing bar 41 terminates at one end in a triangular section 46 havingedges converging at about 90 to a tip and a lip 47 depends from one ofsaid edges and engages the left hand section of the base plate opening26. Lip 47 is forward of the inner edge of opening 26 when swing `bar 41is in retracted position and abuts said inner edge when swing bar 41 isin its advanced position. A second lip 48 is directed upwardly from theopposite edge of the triangular section 46 and is of a height about thatof the thickness of swing bar 40. The other end 49 of swing bar 41 isarcuate and is provided along its peripheral edge with an upstanding lip50 of the height of lip 48.

The upper swing bar 40 has formed therein -a -central opening 51 whichengages pivot post 21 directly yabove swing bar 41, and opposite spacedpairs of circular openings 52 which are of the same diameter andvertically coincide with the underlying diagonally related sets of baseplate and slide bar apertures when `the bars are in their retractedpositions. Formed along opposite edges of swing bar 40 are arcuaterecesses as 53 which clear the adjacent slide bar apertures. Swing bar40 terminates at one end in a triangular section 54 having side edgesconverging at about to a tip and provided with a depending triangularsection 56 having converging edges coinciding with those of section 54and being of a height about that of the thickness of swing bar 41.Depending from one of the converging edges of the section 56 is a lip 57which engages the forward section of base plate Iopening 23. Lip 57 isdisposed outwardly of the inner edge of opening 23 when swing bar 40 isin its retracted position and abuts said inner edge when swing bar 40-is in its advanced position. The other end 59 of swing bar 4t) vis orarcuate shape and is provided with a depending peripheral lip 60 of aheight substantially that of the thickness of swing bar 41.

' The slide bars and swing bars are normally individually urged towardtheir advanced positions by a resilient iinger assembly 63 preferablyintegrally formed of resilient sheet metal, as seen in FIGURE ll of thedrawings. Assembly 63 includes a pair of .angularly related joined crossstrips 64 and 65 respectively, strip 64 extending along the inner lowerborder of side wall 18 adjacent base plate openings= 22 and 23, andstrip 65 extending along the rear wall 17' inner lower border. Inwardlydirected from the bottom free end of strip 64 is .an elongated tongue,screw-connected at its inner end, as seen in FIGURE 6 of the drawing, toan overlying lug formed at the corner of front wall 16 and correspondingside wall 18. Directed inwardly from the lower inner end of strip 64 -isan ear 67, screwconnected to an overlying lug at the corresponding rearcorner of frame member 14. Similarly, an ear 68 is directed forwardlyfrom the free end of the strip 65 and is screw-connected to an overlyinglug located at a corresponding frame member corner.

A plurality of spaced arms 69 project inwardly from the upper edge ofstrip 64 to points adjacent side panel 25. Projecting upwardly from theend of outer arm 69 -is an inwardly sprung resilient finger whichextends through base plate opening 23 and bears on swing arm lip 57 tourge the swing arm 40 counterclockwise toward its advanced position.Also extending through base plate opening 23 is a resilient finger 71which projects upwardly from the `arm 69 next to the outer end arm 69and bears against the trailing end of bar section 38 to urge slide bar36 transversely toward its advanced position. Projecting upwardly fromthe inner ends of the remaining arms 69 .are inwardly sprung resilientlingers 72 which extend through base plate openings 22 and bear on thetrailing edges of corresponding slide bar 37 to individually urge thesetransversely toward their advanced positions.

Directed forwardly from the upper edge strip 65 to points adjacent rearpanel l35 are a plurality of spaced arms 713. Projecting upwardly fromthe end of inner -arms 73 is a forwardly sprung resilient finger 74which extends through base plate opening 26 and bears on swing arm lip47 to urge swing arm 41 counterclockwise toward its advanced position.Also extending through ibase plate opening 26 is a resilient finger 76which exrtends upwardly from arm 73 next to the inner end arm and bearsagainst the trailing edge of slide bar section 30 to urge slide bar 27longitudinally toward its advanced position. Projecting upwardly fromthe inner ends of the remaining arms 73 are forwardly sprung resilientngers 77 which extend through base plate openings 24 and bear on thetrailing edges of corresponding slide bars 28 to urge these individuallylongitudinally toward their advanced positions.

A U-shaped bracket 78 extends rearwardly from the medial lower edge ofstrip `65 and includes a bottom cross web 7-9 screw-connected to thebottom edge of rear wall 17 and an elongated upright rear leg 80abutting the rear face wall 1-7. The leg 80 terminates in a rearwardlydirected, horizontal, contact-defining arm 81.

A contact assembly 82 lis preferably integrally formed of resilientsheet metal and includes a pair of angularly related strips 83 and 84respectively which extend along and abut the lower outer borders ofpanels 215 and 35 and are being secured in position by means -of a screwengaging an apertured lug 86 projecting outwardly from the outer loweredge of strip 83. A contact lug 87 projects rearwardly from the lowerouter edge of strip 84. Directed upwardly from the top edge of strip 83and abutting the outer face of panel 25 are spaced legs 88 whichterminate at their upper ends in outwardly upwardly inclined arms 8-9provided with upwardly directed contact elements 90. Contact elements 90are spaced from side panel 25 and confron-t respective resilient iingers70, 71 and 72, being spaced therefrom when the corresponding ngers andswing and slide bars are in their retracted positions and being engagedby a ringer with the ladv-ance of the corresponding bar. Similarly,directed upwardly from the top edge of strip 84 and abutting the rearface of panel 35 are a number of spaced legs 91 which terminate .attheir upper ends in rearwardly upwardly inclined arms 92 provided withupwardly directed contact elements 94. Contact elements l94 -are spacedfrom rear panel 35 and confront respective resilient lingers 74, 76 and77, being spaced therefrom when the corresponding fingers and swing andslide bars are in their retracted positions a-nd being engaged by aiinger with the adv-ance of a corresponding bar. Projecting from thebotto-m edge of strip 84 forwardly of 6 the bottom edge of the panel 35are a pair of spaced support tongues 96.

Cover 12 includes a rectangular top plate 97 provided with a rim 98 ofenlarged transverse cross-section and having a groove formed in theunderface thereof engaging the upper edges of frame walls 16, 17 and 18.Projecting upwardly from Ithe front and side periphery of rim 98 is alocating lip 99. Extending rearwardly from top plate 97 is a triangularsection 100 having an upper face coplanar with that of rim 98 and havinga ymedially located circular opening 101 formed therein. The rear edgesof section are provided with upstanding lips 102 and skirts 103depending to the level lof the bottom edge of rear wall 17. A metal bulbsocket member 104 includes a rearwardly directed horizontal lug 106secured to skirt 103 by a terminal-defining screw 107 engaging lug 106`and a tapped bore formed in a shoulder section on the inner face ofskirt 103, lug 106 abutting said shoulder. Projecting upwardly from theinner edge of lug 106 is a vertical arm 108 abutting a flat section ofthe skirt front face and terminating in a forwardly directed arm 109underlying section 100 and having formed therein a socket-definingcircular opening 110 registering with opening 101. An electric bulb 111has a terminal base engaging socket opening 110 and a central terminalbearing on contact arm 81.

A plurality of upwardly directed frusto-conical guide socket members 112are formed on plate 97 coaxial with the base plate apertures 20, therecesses therein facing downwardly. Circular apertures 113, Vof smallerdiameter than that of apertures 20, are coaxially formed in the topwalls of socket members 112. Centrally located on plate 97 is a raisedsection 114 having an axial well formed in its underface engaging pivotpost 21. Depending from the peripheral edges of apertures 20 andintegrally formed with base plate 19 are sleeves 116.

A latching element 117 is associated with each set of vertically alignedapertures coaxial with the respective apertures 20 and is axiallyslidable between a raised, retracted lock position and a depressed,advanced release position. Each latching element 117 includes a lowercylindrical section 118, frictionally slidably engaged by acorresponding sleeve 116 releasably to support the latching element 117in its raised position and in mating engagement with the correspondingbar apertures registering with the latching element 117. Located atoplatching `section 118 is a frusto-conical intermediate section 119 whichcomplements and engages a respective socket member 112 when the latchingmember 117 is in its raised position. A cylindrical stem or shank 120`of reduced transverse cross section is directed coaxially upwardly fromintermediate section 119 and slidably registers with a correspondingsocket aperture 113.

Reset plate 13 is of rectangular configuration and has a perimeterslightly less than that of the inside of frame member 14. The resetplate is supported within the lower border 0f frame member 14 on the topfaces of tongues 66 and 96, and an opposite corner tongue 121 secured toa lug carried by frame member 14, and is vertically movable between anormally gravity lowered depressed position and a raised position. Whenthe reset plate 13 is in its raised position, all the latching elementsare raised and the various bars retracted, and when the reset plate 13is in its normally lowered position the latching elements I117 areselectively movable to their depressed positions.

Considering now the operation of the switching device 1-0 describedabove, reset plate 121 is momentarily raised to elevate all the latchingelements 117 to their raised, retracted positions. As the latchingelements are raised, the conical intermediate sections 119 engage theedges of the apertures of any of the -advanced actuating bars to retractthe bars with the raising of the latching members, and the latchingsections are brought into mating registry with the aligned base plateapertures 20 and the aligned apertures of the actuating bars releasablyto lock the actuating bars and the bar advancing resilient fingers intheir retracted positions whereby all of the contact elements arethereby disengaged. The conical sections 119 nest in sockets 112 whenlatching elements 117 are retracted.

A coded or playing card 122 of rectangular configuration and havingopenings complementing and arranged in the manner of the stems i120 ofthe latching elements, is superimposed on rim 98 within lip 99 with thecard openings engaging stems 120. Indicia are carried by the card 122,assigning a number or identity to each of the respective engagedlatching elements 117. Selected of the latching elements 117 are thensequentially depressed in accordance with the procedure being practicedor the game being played, the lowering of the selected latching elementsbeing limited .by the reset plate 13, to shift the respective latchingsections 118 out of engagement with the correspondingly registeringactuating bar apertures. In the depressed position of a latching element117 the stem 120 registers with the aligned actuating bar apertures andbeing of substantially smaller diameter than the apertures releases thecorresponding bar for advance movement. However, an actuating bar is notadvanced until all of the apertures therein are disengaged by thecorresponding latching sections 118, since engagement thereof by one ofthe latching sections locks the bar in its retracted position. Thus, toeffect the advance of slide bar 36 or 37 all latching elements I117 inany transverse roW thereof must be depressed, thereby freeing thecorresponding slide bar which is advanced by a resilient finger 71 or 72which in turn engages a contact element 90 to close the switch definedthereby. Similarly, the depression of all the latching elements in anyvertical column thereof effects the advance of a corresponding slide.bar 27 or 28 and a resilient arm 76 or 77 and the consequent closing ofa switch contact 94. The depression of all the latching elements lyingalong one or the other of the diagonals, frees a corresponding swing bar40 or 41 which is advanced by a respective resilient finger 70 or 74 toclose a switch contact 90 or 94. The closingof the switch defined by theassemblies 63 and 82 mai/complete the energizing circuit to any desiredelectrically actuated device. For example, the indicator lamp 111 may,as illustrated, have one terminal connected through the socket 104 and asuitable lead to one terminal of a source of current, and the other lampterminal may be connected to the assembly 63, the assembly 82 beingconnected by a suitable lead to the electric current source otherterminal. Thus upon engagement of any of the contact elements -by aresilient finger the current circuit to the lamp 111 is completed toenergize the lamp and indicate the depression of all of the latchingelements 117 in an aligned group thereof. The latching elements 117 maythen be retracted by raising the reset plate 13 to return the apparatusto its initial position, and the above sequence repeated. Y

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations,omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof.

What is claimed is:

I1. An electrical switching device comprising a base plate Y havingformed therein a plurality of longitudinally and transversely alignedregularly spaced first apertures provided with sleeves depending fromthe peripheral edges of said apertures and integrally formed with saidbase plate, a plurality of longitudinally extending first bars,superimposed side by side on said base plate and individually movablealong their lengths between advanced and retracted positions, said barshaving formed therein second apertures substantially coinciding withsaid first apertures when said first bars are in retracted positions, aplurality of transversely extending second bars superimposed side byside on said first bars and individually movable along the lengthsthereof between advanced and retracted positions, said second barshavingformed therein third apertures substantially coinciding with saidfirst and second apertures when said-second bars are in retractedpositions to define with said first and second apertures a plurality ofsets of three registering apertures, means individually resilientlyurging said bars toward their advanced positions, a latching elementregistering with each of said aperture sets and axially movable betweena raised and depressed position and including a latching sectionfrictionally slidably engaged by a respective of said sleeves andengaging a respective aperture set when said latching element is in itsraised position to lock the corresponding bars in their retractedpositions, and out of engagement with said aperture set when saidlatching element is in its depressed position to release saidcorresponding bars for movement toward their advanced positions, andswitch means responsive to the movement of any of said bars to itsadvanced position.

2. An electrical switching device comprising a base plate having formedtherein a plurality of longitudin-ally and transversely alignedvregularly spaced first apertures, a plurality of longitudinallyextending first bars superimposed side by side on said base plate andindividually movable along their lengths between advanced and retractedpositions, said bars having formed therein second aperturessubstantially coinciding with said first apertures when said first barsare in retracted positions, a plurality of transversely extending secondbars superimposed side by side on said first bars and individuallymovable along the lengths thereof between advanced and retractedpositions, said second bars having formed therein third aperturessubstantially -coinciding with said first and second apertures when saidsecond bars are in retracted positions to define with said first andsecond apertures a plurality of sets of three registering apertures, apair of upper and lower intersecting third and fourth bars overlyingsraid second bars and diagonally disposed relative to said superimposedfirst and second bars, means pivotally supporting said third and fourthbars for swinging in the plane thereof about their point of intersection'between advanced and retracted positions, said third and fourth barshaving apertures formed therein vertically coinciding with correspondingdiagonally underlying of said aperture sets when said diagonal bars arein their retracted positions, means individually resiliently urging saidbars toward their advanced positions, a latching element registeringwith each of said aperture sets and axially movable lbetween a raisedand depressed position and including a latching section engaging arespective aperture set When said latching element is in its raisedposition to lock the -corresponding bars in their retracted positions,and out of engagement with said aperture set when said latching elementis in its depressed position to release said corresponding bars formovement toward their advanced positions, and switch means responsive tothe movement of any of said bars to its advanced position.

3. The electrical switching device of claim 2 wherein each of saidlatching elements includes a shank section of reduced transversecross-section directed upwardly from the respective latching section andjoined thereto by a downwardly outwardly inclined shoulder.

4. The electrical switching device of claim 3 including a cover plateoverlying said bars and having apertures formed therein registering withrespective of said aperture sets and of smaller cross-section than saidunderlying apertures, said latching element Shanks slidably engagingsaid cover plate apertures.

5. An electrical switching device comprising a base plate having formedthereiny a plurality of longitudinally and transversely Valignedregularly spaced first apertures, a plurality of longitudinallyextending first bars having trailing ends and superimposed side by sideon said base plate and individually movable along their lengths betweenadvanced and retracted positions, said bars having formed therein secondapertures substantially coinciding with said rst apertures when saidfirst bars are in retracted positions, a plurality of transverselyextending second Ibars having trailing ends and superimposed side byside on said first bars and individually movable along the lengthsthereof `between advanced and retracted positions, said second barshaving formed therein third apertures substantially coinciding with saidfirst and second apertures when said second bars are in retractedpositions to define with said first and second apertures a plurality ofsets of three registering apertures, means including forwardly sprungresilient fingers having upper sections bearing on correspondingtrailing ends of said first and second bars and individually resilientlyurging said bars toward their advanced positions, a latching elementregistering with each of said aperture sets and axially movable betweena raised and depressed position and including a latching sectionengaging a respective aperture set when said latching element is in itsraised position to lock the corresponding bars in their retractedpositions, and out of engagement with said aperture set when saidlatching element is in its depressed position to release saidcorresponding bars for movement toward their advanced positions, andswitch means responsive to the movement of lany of said bars to itsadvanced position and including conta-ct elements disposed in the pathsof respective of said resilient fingers and in and out of engagementtherewith when said corresponding bar engaged linger is in its advancedand retracted position respectively.

6. The electrical switching device of claim wherein said resilientfingers are formed of metal and including a metal strip extendingbetween and connected to the bases of said fingers.

7. The electrical switching device of claim 5 wherein said base platehas openings formed therein adjacent to the trailing ends of said firstand second bars, and the free ends of said resilient fingers projectthrough said openings.

8. The electrical switching device of claim 2 wherein said apertures arecircular and said latching sections are of cylindrical -configuration ofsubstantially the same diameter as said apertures and said latchingelements include axial rods of reduced cross-section directed upwardlyfrom said latching sections and joined thereto by conically shapedshoulders.

9. An electrical switching device comprising a base plate having formedtherein a plurality of longitudinally and transversely aligned regularlyspaced first apertures, a plurality of longitudinally extending firstbars superimposed side by side on s-aid base plate and individuallymovable along their lengths between advanced and retracted positions,said bars having formed therein second apertures substantiallycoinciding with said first .apertures when said first bars are inretracted positions, a plurality of transversely extending second barssuperimposed side by side on said first bars and individually mova'blealong the lengths thereof between advanced and retracted positions, saidsecond bars having formed therein third apertures substantiallycoinciding with said first and second apertures when said second barsare in retracted positions to define with said iirst and secondapertures a plurality of sets of three registering apertures, meansindividu-ally resiliently urging said bars toward their advancedpositions, a latching element registering with each of said aperturesets and axially movable between a raised and depressed position andincluding a latching section engaging a respective aperture set whensaid latching element is in its raised position to lock thecorresponding bars in their retracted positions, ,and out of engagementwith said aperture set when said latching element is in its depressedposition to release said corresponding bars for movement toward theiradvanced positions, and switch means responsive to the movement of anyof said bars to its advanced position and including a reset plateunderlying said latching elements and upwardly movable into engagementwith the bottoms thereof when in their raised position whereby tofacilitate the raising of depressed latching elements.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,126,963 2/1915Dyson 200-5 X 1,795,536 3/1931 Baker 200-5 X 2,591,869 4/1952 Quimby273-135 3,192,327 6/1965 Holzer 200-5 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, PrimaryExaminer.

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY,\Exam'z`ne1^.

M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRICAL SWITCHING DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE PLATE HAVING FORMEDTHEREIN A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY ALIGNED REGULARLYSPACED FIRST APERTURES PROVIDED WITH SLEEVES DEPENDING FROM THEPERIPHERAL EDGES OF SAID APERTURES AND INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID BASEPLATE, A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FIRST BARS, SUPERIMPOSEDSIDE BY SIDE ON SAID BASE PLATE AND INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE ALONG THEIRLENGTHS BETWEEN ADVANCED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, SAID BARS HAVINGFORMED THEREIN SECOND APERTURES SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDING WITH SAID FIRSTAPERTURES WHEN SAID FIRST BARS ARE IN RETRACTED POSITIONS, A PLURALITYOF TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING SECOND BARS SUPERIMPOSED SIDE BY SIDE ON SAIDFIRST BARS AND INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE ALONG THE LENGTHS THEREOF BETWEENADVANCED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, SAID SECOND BARS HAVING FORMED THEREINTHIRD APERTURES SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDING WITH SAID FIRST AND SECONDAPERTURES WHEN SAID SECOND BARS ARE IN RETRACTED POSITIONS TO DEFINEWITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND APER-